Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 2, 1940 E. B. NEWILL v ,185,96

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO EYJ Jan. 2, 1940. E. B. NEWILL 2,185,965

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed July 51. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LMJ INVENTCR.

Patented Jan. 2, i940 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS Edward B. Newill, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corpoi-ation of Delaware Application July 31, 1935, .Serial No. 34,024

Claims.

t This invention relates to refrigerating appara- An object of this invention is to provide means for increasing the cooling action on the condenser 5 of a refrigerating system during periods when normal cooling is insuflicient.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of my invention; and

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are diagrammatic representations, somewhat similar to Fig. 1, but showing other embodiments.

Refrigerating apparatus is often installed in places where, at certain times, the normal cooling action of the condenser is insufficient to cool the refrigerant. An example of this occurs when a refrigerating system is installed on a railway car or other vehicle so that the condenser is normally cooled by air currents caused by the motion of.

blown over the eva Torator by means of' 'a fan or:

blower l3 driven by a motor l4. Air may be blown over the condenser by a fan or'blower l5 which is driven by a motor Hi. If desired, the 40' motor l6 may also be the motor which drives the compressor. When this type of system is -mounted on a railway car, the hood l'| is so arranged that the motion of the car aids the fan IS in blowing air over the condenser l2. When the car stops, or even when the car is running and under abnormally hotconditions the cooling action of the air may be insuflicient.

Under theseconditions, means are provided for increasing the cooling action of the air by providing a way of flowing a cooling liquid, such as water, over the condenser. Such means, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, may be controlled by a thermostat |8 in response to atmospheric temperature, the thermostat l8 opening the valve l9 upon a rise in atmospheric temperature and (Cl. era-115' causing water to flow over the condenser l2. A drain 20 is provided for catching any excess moisture.

If desired, though not necessarily, the water gathered in the drain 20 may be recirculated to 5 the inlet pipe 2|. Under such conditions, a sump 22 is provided to which the pipe 20 drains. This sump is connected with an electrically driven pump 23 which pumps water to the inlet pipe 2|.

If desired, the thermostatic bulb l8 may also 10 control a snap switch 24 which controls the operation of the pump 23. It is to be understood that, if desired, the valve l9 may be eliminated and the pump 23 maybe relied upon solely to control the flow of liquid. On the other hand, the pipe 2| may be connected to a pressure tank and the pump 23 eliminated in which case the .drain pipe can discharge on the ground. If

desired, a float controlled valve 25 may be con-. nected to a pressure water supply to maintain a 20 suitable supply of liquid in the sump 22.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the evaporator llla, the translating device Ila, the condenser PM, the fan l3a, motor 4a, |5a and motor lBa may all have the same construction and 25 function described with respect to Fig. 1. In this case, however, the control of the water over the condenser l2ais made responsive to the temperature of air flowing over the condenser. Thus a thermostatic bulb 8a is placed at the discharge end of the condenser air stream .and this controls a valve |9a which in turn controls the flow of water over the condenser. If desired, the sump and water pump shown in Fig. 1 may also be connected to the intake pipe 2la and drain 20a. The illustration of this is not repeated in thisiigll e as the action is identical with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 corresponding parts have been given the same number as in Fig. 1 with the suflix b. I he parts so numbered have the same function as in Fig. 1. In this case, however, the flow of water over the condenser |2b is made responsive to the flowof current to the motor ltb. This may be accomplished by connecting the motor I 6b to the power lines 3|! and 3| which, for convenience, 5 are shownconnected to the battery 32 and generator 33 which are usually provided on a railway car. A shunt plug 34 is interposed between the line 3| and the motor I61) and is in parallel with a relay 35 which controls the flow current to the solenoid valve 36 which controls the flow of water over the condenser l2b. A-water sump and a water pump corresponding to 22 and 23 of Fig. 1 may be used in,Flg. 3 as is readily understood.

In Fig. 4 corresponding parts have been numbered similarly to Fig. 1 with the suiflx c. In this case the flow 'of water is controlled in ac cordance with the temperature of the condenser. Thus a thermostatic bulb l8c is placed physically against the condenser I20 and this controls the valve I90. Likewise here it is understood that a sump and pump corresponding to 22 and 23, with their controls, may be provided.

In all of these miodiflcations it is to be seen that for normal operation the air-flow alone is sufficient to cool the condenser. It is only under abnormal conditions due to high temperatures or high current consumption that water is caused to flow over'the condenser and thus aid the air in its cooling action.

While the form of embodimentof the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerant evaporator, a refrigerant translatingdevice and a refrigerant condenser in refrigerant flow relationship, means for flowing a cooling fluid over said condenser independently of operation of said translating device, and means for increasing the cooling action of said cooling fluid in response to an increase in the temperature on said condenser, said last named means including means for spraying a cooling liquid over said condenser and a valve for controlling the flow of said fluid.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerant evaporator, a refrigerant translating device, and a. condenser in refrigerant flow relationship, means for flowing a cooling fluid over said condenser, means for increasing the cooling action of said cooling fluid, said last named means including a sump, means connecting said sump to a pressure fluid supply, float means to maintain a suitable supply of fluid in said sump, and pump means circulating said fluid over said condenser in response to an increase in atmospheric temperature.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, for use on a railway car, a refrigerant evaporator, '22. refrigerant translating device and a refrigerant condenser in refrigerant flow relationship, means for cooling said condenser, means whereby motion of the car augments said cooling action, and means for increasing the cooling action of one or both of said means in response to an increase in atmospheric temperature.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus for use on a railway car, a refrigerant evaporator, a refrigerant translating device and a refrigerant condenser in refrigerant flow relationship, means for cooling said condenser, means whereby motion of the car augments said cooling action, and means for increasing the cooling action of one or both of said means when normal cooling is insuflicient.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerant evaporator, a refrigerant translating device and a refrigerant condenser in refrigerant flow relationship, means for flowing a cooling fluid over saidcondenser independently of operation of said translating device, and means for increasing the cooling action of said cooling fluid in response to an increase in the temperature on said condenser, said last named means including means for spraying a cooling liquid over said condenser and means for controlling the flow of said fluid.

EDWARD B. NEWILL. 

